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REC ORDS 



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THE CITY OF OTTAWA, 



THE FOUNDATION OF THE RIDEAU CANAL 



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BY 

GERTRUDE VAN CORTLANDT, 



PRINTED AT THE OFFICE OF THE OTTAWA CITIZEN, RIDEAU STREET. 






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P E E F A C E . 

On reading the history of Canada, it is greatly to be 
regretted that many most important events, connected 
with its rise and progress, are lost to us for ever, simply 
because no record of passing events was kept at the time. 
With a view, in some measure, of obviating similar mis- 
fortunes, occurring in the early history of our infant city, 
I have thrown a few imperfect notes together, and for 
which I do not lay any claim to originality, having 
derived all my information from other parties. To the 
Introduction I am entitled to no merit whatever, nor 
could I be, inasmuch as it in a great measure refers to 
events which fell under the cognizance of the writer, but 
which took place some years before the period of my 
birth. 

GERTEUDE VAN CORTLAXDT. 

Ottawa, April, 1858. 



INTRODUCTION. 



If we look retrospectively at the City of Ottawa, as it was twenty-five 
years since, and compare our then " local habitation," with its ungainly 
name, (Bytown,) and its thirty or forty houses, a tithe only of these, too, 
being of stone, with what " The City of the Woods " now is, well, 
indeed, may the metamorphosis call forth expressions of surprise and 
astonishment. Let us only go back to 1834, the ever memorable year of 
the second cholera, and when, what with the devastation efiFected by the all- 
conquering arm of " Vie King of Terrors " and the absconcjings and removals 
consequent upon stagnation of business, we were reduced both literally and 
virtually to the piteous condition of a By Town, or out of the way place, 
— when a solitary steamer, in a state of hapless inactivity, might be seen 
moored at the wharf for three days in the week, for want of occupation, — 
when, in like manner, the royal mail was only delivered and dismissed evei-y 
alternate day, — when a plaiu two story wooden house was pronounced by one 
of oui- military governors to be a splendid hotel for so small a place, — when 
we had neither a printing press, a foundry, a tannery, or even a butcher's 
stall, in the whole town — wanting entirely in a fire-engine, to quench our 
not unfrequent conflagrations, and scarcely possessing a patent pail to carry 
water with, even though we had one ; — and then look forward to what wo 
have arrived at in less than a quarter of a century, with our five printing- 
presses, those mighty engines for the diffusion both of facts and falsehoods, 
our large, substantial and commodious hotels, our various foundrit^s. 
tanneries, and markets, together with our half dozen fire-engines, and all 
other concomitants. Well, indeed, I repeat, may the primitive denizens of 
our quondam hamlet not only evince sentiments of wonder at our astouishiim- 
advancement, but feel pride as well in the circumstance of similar 
expressions having been spontaneously elicited both from the tourist and 
the topographer. In illustration thereof, perhaps, we cannot do better than 
copy the description of our infant city, as it is given in the last edition of 
the Canada Directory : — 

"Ottawa, 0. W. — Formerly called Bytown. — One of the chief cities of 
Central Canada, situated on the Ottawa River, 87 miles from its confluence 
with the St. Lawrence, and at the mouth of the Rideau River. The city 
obtained its original name from its founder. Colonel By, an officer of <lie 



X. 

Eoyal Engineers, whom the Imperial Government commissioned in 1825 to 
superintend the construction of the Rideau Canal. In 1854, Bytown, by an 
Act of the Provincial Parliament, was created a city, and its name changed 
to that which it now bears. The canal divides the city into Upper and 
Lower Town, and enters the Ottawa through eight magnificent stone locks. 
A massive cut-stone bridge, erected by the Royal Sappers and Miners, 
crosses the canal, which has already, from the extension and rapidly 
increasing traffic of the city, become utterly inadequate to the due accom- 
modation of the public. The city is well laid out ; its streets are wide, 
regular, and uniform, and for the most part they intersect each other at 
right angles. The principal quarters are supplied with gas ; and an early 
construction of water works is in contemplation. At the western extremity 
of the city is the celebrated Chaudiere Falls, a scene of imposing grandeur 
and beauty, and unsurpassed in America, except by the Niagara Falls, 
which it rivals in many respects. A suspension bridge, erected by the 
Provincial Government at a cost of $66,448, spans this foaming chasm, and 
unites Upper with Lower Canad \. At the north-east end of the city are 
two other Falls, over which the waters of the Rideau River pour themselves 
with wild impetuosity into the bosom of the Ottawa ; and although inferior to 
the Chaudiere in point of sublimity and grandeur, they are not without 
many attractions to the admirer of nature's works. Altogether, the scenery 
around the city is of unsurpassed beauty, — wild, romantic, and picturesque, 
— presenting a variety rarely to be met with in any other part of the 
Province. The commerce of Ottawa is constituted almost wholly of 
lumber, both sawn and square, which passes through the city from the 
forests in the rear. More of this truly Canadian staple is manufactured in 
the district of which Ottawa is the emporium, than in any other part of 
Canada, and the supply furnished here is the main dependence of the spring 
and fall fleets of shipping which arrive in this country for return cargoes to 
Europe ; as also to a large extent (of sawn lumber) of the markets in the 
United States, in which the demand is constantly increasing. The Hull 
iron mines, distant from the city about seven miles, are being worked suc- 
(•essfully, and they promise to be, before many years, a source of consider- 
;\ble wealth. The future of Ot^iwa is not difficult to foresee : situated in 
the centre of a fertile and rapidly developing country ; holding, as it were, 
the key of the lumber trade : possessing inexhaustible water power, which 
men of enterprise and capital arc yearly turning to account, as also every 
facility of communication with the principal cities and towns in Canada and 
with the neighboring Republic, — it is destined at no distant period to 
Ix^come a place of important manufacturing operations; and in the event of 
the Ottawa and Georgian Bay Ship Canal being carried into effect, it will 
.-'tand on the great water highway to the West. Its natural capabilities of 
diifence are great and important." 



RISE AND PKOGRESS 



THE CITY OF OTTAWA 



OTTAWA. 

As Ottawa, (formerly Bytown) dates its origin to the commencement of 
the Rideau Canal and first Chaudiere Bridge, it is our intention to 
begin this imperfect composition with a slight sketch of these great 
undertakings. 

During the last American war, it was found that the transport of 
ordnance and other stores up the River St. Lawrence was attended in all 
cases with great hazard, and in many instances, it was found necessary to 
sink the batteaux, containing military stores, in order to prevent them 
falling into the hands of the enemy. To avoid a repetition of similar 
disasters, in the event of anotlier war with the United States, an interna- 
tioual canal, connecting the waters of the River Ottawa and Lake Ontario, 
was projected in the Imperial Parliament. Amongst the warmest 
advocates of this measure was the Duke of Wellington, and, indeed, it was 
chie6y through his cSorts that the Rideau Canal Bill was passed. 

RIDEAU CANAL. 

" While this work stands a splendid instance of the munificence of our paternal 
Government, and an imperishable monument of its fostering care, it will 
transmit to posterity with distinguished honor the name of Colonel By, 
with whom the idea of the work first originated, and who, by a fortunate 
concurrence of circumstances, was destined to superintend its construc- 
tion."— Hageeman's Report, 1832. 

Ground for the construction of the Rideau Canal was first broken on the 
2 1st September, 1826, and it was the intention originally of the military 
authorities to allow of a width of only 20 feet for each lock, but it having 
bet-n pointed out by the respective officers here to the Board of Ordnance 
in England that these dimensions were quite insufficient, it was ultimately 



12 

determined to enlarge them to 33 feet, width, and 134 feet, length. The 
adoption of this important measure was strongly favored by an unforeseen 
accident. Shortly after the works were commenced, a large and destructive 
fire broke out in the surrounding brush, which extended to the canal valley, 
and speedily consumed all the tunber foundation of the locks and adjoining 
work-shops. The first stone of the locks thus enlarged was laid amidst 
great rejoicing in the autumn of 1827, by the late lamented Sir John, then 
Captain, Franklin, who was on his homeward route, after his second 
expedition. The first steamer, called the Pumper, passed through the canal 
on the 29th of May, 1832, and the canal was opened for general transport 
in August of the same year. 

In the ascent from Ottawa to the Upper Rideau Lake, the summit level 
is 292 feet 3 inches, and the descent from the lake to Kingston is 165 feet 4 
inches. The River Ottawa here is 126 feet 11 inches below Lake Ontario, 
and 110 feet above the level of the sea. The Rideau Canal was began, 
continued, and finished under the command and superintendence of Lieut.- 
Colonel John By, and cost £803,774 .5s. 6d., Sterling. From the opening 
of the canal in 1832, to the close of the year 1838, the expenses of the 
establishment and repairs amounted to £52,011, whilst the profits only 
reached £29,923, thus leaving an actual loss of £22,088. Last autumn, 
the Rideau Canal was transferred by the Imperial to the Provincial 
Government. 

We conclude this portion of our subject with the following encomium of 
this great work, copied from the first pamphlet which was published on the 
subject : — 

"The excellence of the workmanship and the superior construction 
of the locks and dams require no praise. They speak for themselves, 
and are the subject of much admiration, and, in the opinion of those most 
competent to judge of such works, exceed anything of the kind in any 
part of the world."* 

CHAUDIERE BRIDGES. 

The first bridge thrown across the chasm of the Chaudiere Falls was a 
military structure, composed of wood, and the foundation was laid on the 
Hull side by the Countess of Dalhousie, on the afternoon of the same day as 
that commemorative of the beginning of the Rideau Canal. The first 
attempt at erecting it proved unsuccessful, owing, it was supposed, to a 
large stray stick of timber striking the enormous scow, which served as a 



* Report for the principal officers of His Majesty's Board of Ordnance, by Joseph Ilager- 
maii, Esquire, Kingston, 1832. 



13 

base to erect the arch upon, thus breaking the moorings, when the vessel 
floated down the stream, and the bridge, in a considerable stage of advance- 
ment, fell, carrying with it eight of the workmen, one of whom was 
unfortunately drowned. 

No time was lost in making a second attempt to erect a truss bridge 
across the river at the same place, and which was effected most satisfactorily 
by substituting iron chain cables for the scow. This bridge was opened in 
1828, and a toll levied both on vehicles and foot passengers. The attention 
of the military authorities here was called to the insecure condition of this 
bridge about the year 1834, when two large chain cables were stretched 
across underneath for support. After the lapse of a short time, it was found 
that even with this precaution danger was to be apprehended, and barriers 
were thrown across at either end. Foot passengers, however, continued to 
cross it to the last, and a resident of this place actually walked over it only 
two hours before its fall, which took place on the afternoon of the 18th May, 
1836. Its length was 199 feet. 

During the period the bridge was closed, a scow, succeeded by a horse- 
boat, was established as a ferry across the river, from the old steamboat 
wharf (now Stirling's Brewery) to the opposite point, by the late Mr. John 
Beda^d, and ceased on the opening of the present wire Suspension Bridge, 
which took place publicly on the 17th September, 1844. This bridge was 
built by the Province, constructed by au aged American contractor, named 
Wilkinson, and cost £15,060, currency. 

CASUALTIES AT THE CHAUDIERB. 

The first romantic incident, in which human life was concerned, took 
place on the morning of the 2nd of June, 1848. The following lucid and 
descriptive account of the event is copied from a number of the Bytown 
Packet, of that period : — 

" Yesterday, about ten o'clock, a. m., an accident of a serious nature 
occurred. Two men were upon a crib of oak timber, endeavouring to make 
the head of the Chaudiere Groverument slides, but the current, proving too 
strong, carried them out of the channel. They observed their danger too 
late, and were carried with the crib over the lost channel. One of the men, 
named Baptiste Beaudran, jumped off the crib, and was carried over the 
chute. The other, named Paul Filardeau, kept his hold of the crib until it 
struck against the table rock. His situation was even here critical, for a 
dreadful rapid lay between him and the main shore, distant about one 
hundred and fifty yards. A crowd of the inhabitants, about 500 in number, 
were soon on the spot, and measures immediately taken to remove the poor 
fellow from his unpleasant situation. Messrs. McLachlin, Farley, Sullivan, 



14 

Keefer, and Larmouth, were most active in the attempt. A small cord was 
first thrown over, to which was attached a stronger one, and finally a cable 
or hawser, which was attached by Filardeau firmly to the rock. Rings 
were then slipped on to the hawser, to which cords were attached, and one 
end thrown over to the rock. Filardeau then tied the cords around his 
body, and slung himself to the rings. Great excitement occurred when he 
let himself off. He was immediately pulled in along the main rope, not, 
however, without touching the water several times. When the poor fellow 
reached the shore, he with the greatest coolness turned to his deliverers, and 
thanked them in both languages for their kindness. He then walked away, 
seeming not the least injured." 

The miraculous escape of a person, after actually passing over the mighty 
cataract of the Chaudiere, occurred on Monday the 16th June, 1851. On 
this occasion four men, whilst trying to make the Government slides on a 
crib of timber, were in like manner carried by a breeze into the rapids. — 
One of them, Jean Baptiste Beaume, foreseeing the danger of their situation, 
immediately jumped off the crib, with the intention of gaining the pier, some 
200 yards above the falls, but was mortally injured in the attempt, by a 
stick of floating timber crushing him against it. After passing the pier, a 
second man, named John Hawthorn, leaped into the rapids, with a desperate 
hope of gaining the shore, but was immediately carried over the cataract. — 
The remaining two men clung instinctively to one of the pieces of the crib, 
which was entirely wrecked, whilst passing over the mighty abyss, and , 
strange to say, escaped safe until the stick struck the little island below the 
falls, when it revolved, and one of these poor fellows, William Crow, was 
thrown off, and sank to rise no more. The other man, Francois Vandal, 
was most miraculously saved by the piece of timber floating into still water, 
and was the only mortal on record of the many who have travelled the same 
course who lived to tell the tale. 

On the afternoon of Tuesday, August 22, 1854, the thrilling news of a 
large crib, with eight men upon it, being grounded immediately over the 
big kettle of the Chaudiere, was speedily circulated throughout the town, 
and led to the congregating of a large number of people at the place. This 
crib, unlike the two preceding ones, had been carried by a north-west wind 
from the Lower Canada side to the centre of the river, where it was arrested 
by the shallowness of the water, at the very edge of the falls, and at a spot 
where, to an ordinary spectator, relief seemed hopeless. The men were so 
chilled by the evaporation of the water, that they were compelled to wrap 
themselves up in their blankets, and presented a most heart-rending 
spectacle. By means similar to those used on the first occasion, however, 
after sundry fruitless attempts, a line reached them. A strong rope was 



15 

then fixed thereto, by which, after having been secured to a portion of the 
crib by the men upon it, they were all drawn safely over the abyss of waters, 
as represented in the accompanying engraving. 

SAPPERS' BRIDGE. 

The stone arch, called the Sappers' Bridge, which spans the Rideau 
Canal, and which, we are informed by a tablet on the southern side, (now 
nearly effaced, owing to the perishable nature of the stone) was built by the 
seventh and fifteenth companies of the Royal Sappers and Miners, was com- 
menced in the year 1827, and completed in 1829. On its northern face, a 
very good specimen of ornamental stone cutting may be seen, being a 
representation of the ordnance arms. It was executed by a private soldier 
named Thomas Smith. The sun-dial on the Barrack Hill is another 
specimen of this man's handiwork. Both of these objects date back to the 
earliest days of the city, and constitute very interesting records. The 
material of which the Sappers' Bridge is constructed is the fossiliferous 
(Trenton) limestone of the place, but which, having been, unfortunately, 
selected from a superficial stratum, already evinces visible marks of 
corrosion and premature decay. The following remarks are copied from 
the Ottawa Citizen of May 13, 1854, and emanated from the pen of E. 
Billings, Esquire : — 

" We observe that a large stone has been knocked out of the Sappers' 
Bridge, nearly over the keystone of the arch. The material of which this 
bridge is constructed is of an inferior description, and will ere many years 
crumble down into a heap of rubbish. The stone was taken, we believe, 
from the large quarry beside the eight locks, where the effects of the 
weather upon it can be well observed. The strata in this quarry consist of 
thick beds of a species of limestone, which is traversed in all directions by 
thin, irregular leaves of dark shale, and where the rock has long been 
exposed to the atmosphere, it divides into small fragments, parting along 
the course of the leaves of shale, so that a very few years serves to reduce it 
to a mass of ruin. 

" This will soon be the fate of the Sappers' Bridge. In proof of this, we 
have only to direct attention to the manner in which the old cliff on both 
sides of the quarry is undergoing the process of delapidation, and also to the 
state of many of the large blocks in the parapets of the bridge. In selecting 
building materials, we would recommend our citizens to beware of the upper 
layers of the Trenton limestone of this vicinity. It is not fit for the 
purpose, as time will show on many of the buildings already erected." 



16 

STEAMBOATS. 
The first steamer commenced running on the waters of the Ottawa 
between this city and Grenville in the year 1822, and was called the Union. 
This vessel, after running about six years, was succeeded by the William 
King, and very soon after, the steamer Shannon, built, as were both the 
preceding, at Hawkesbury, commenced running. This vessel was 
lengthened about the year 1836, and, after the opening of the Veaudreuil 
Canal, having bee a found too large for the trade, was taken down the Long 
Sault in May, 1837, and was succeeded in turn by the steamer Speed, which 
vessel was built at Hull, axjl intended for passengers only. This fine vessel 
was burnt in the latter end of June, 1849, and was replaced by another 
steamer, called the Phomix, also built at Hull, and which made her first 
trip on the 7th June, 1849, and continues running to the present time. 

PLACES OF PUBLIC WORSHIP. 

The first place of public worship erected in Bytown, in the year 1827, 
was a small wooden edifice situated on Sandy Hill, and devoted to the 
services of the Wesleyan Methodists. It was attended by the ti-oops, and, 
shortly after its completion, was destroyed by a fire which committed 
great havoc, and threatened destruction to the whole place. A few years 
afterwards the Methodist Connection erected a stone chapel on Sparks 
Street, but which, being found too small, was sold in 1854 to the Roman 
Catholic community, and a site for a new and larger edifice was purchased 
from Mr. Sparks on Metcalfe Street, where the present Methodist Chapel 
stands. 

ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCHES. 

The first Roman Catholic Church was also a wooden edifice, and erected 
ou the spot where the present Cathedral now stands. Divine service was 
first celebrated in it in the year 1832. This building, in like 
manner, having been found too small for the congregation, an association 
was formed on the 17th March, 1839, consisting of 4000 persons, for the 
purpose of erecting a stone church of large dimensions, the first stone of 
which was laid ou October 25th, 1841. The first church was removed 
across the road on wooden rollers by Mr. John Perkins, in May, 1842, and 
in September, 1843, the new church was lengthened from 90 feet to 
] 30, its present length. The first edifice, then used for a carpenter's shop, 
was accidentally burned in 1840, a short time previous to which the present 
church was dedicated to Divine worship. 



17 

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCnES. 

The present Presbyterian Church, better known as the Kirk of Scotland, 
was opened for Divine service in the year 1828. For the first two years 
after it was built, the use of it was granted to the members of the Protestant 
Episcopal Church. Being found too small for the increasing congregation, 
it was enlarged to its present dimensions in 1854. 

KNOX'S CHURCH. 
The dissensions which sprang up in Europe some years ago between the 
Old Kirk and the Free Church Presbyterians having extended to this coun- 
try, led, in the year 1844, to the secession of the latter from the parent 
church. No time was lost in erecting an edifice. The Free Church, or 
Knox's Church, as it is often called, is a large wooden structure, situated on 
Besserer Street. It is currently stated, however, that a more central site 
has been deemed necessary, and that a lot has actually been purchased near 
Sappers' Bridge, and on which it is intended to construct a new building. 

EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF ENGLAND. 

The Church of England of this City stands at the western extremity of 
Sparks Street, a lot having been given by Mr. Sparks free. The foundation 
atone was laid in the year 1832. A few years afterwards it was discovered 
that some dishonest parties had removed the corner stone and 
purloined the coins. Divine service was first performed in the Church 
in the year 1833. In the year 1841, the edifice was enlarged by 
lengthening the transept, and adding two wings, which gives the church 
its present cruciform appearance. The growing wants of the congre- 
gation soon rendered the church thus enlarged once more too 
limited in space, and it was found necessary in 1855 to erect 
two side galleries for their accommodation. A splendid site for a new 
church in Central Ottawa was recently granted by the Board of Ordnance. 
Plans of the intended edifice have already been obtained, and approved of, 
and it is in contemplation to commence building at an early date. The 
projected structure, it is expected, will be of a very superior class, and con- 
stitute a very attractive object in the city. 

HOSPITALS. 

The first hospital erected in Bytown was a small wooden building situated 
on the bank of the river, near the terminus of the Ottawa and Prescott 
Railway, which was built in 1832, and intended for the use of cholera 
patients only, that dke disease having committed great havoc here during 



18 

that year, and again in 1834. This building was subsequently allowed to 
go to decay, and was ultimately torn down for firewood by the squatters in 
the neighbourhood. The By town General Hospital was opened by a few of 
the Grey Nuns of Montreal in the year 1845. Dissensions, however, having 
sprung up between the parties conducting it and the Protestant portion of 
the community, another institution intended solely for the use of all denomi- 
nations of Protestants, was considered necessary. The site chosen is pecu- 
liarly healthy and commanding. The ground was granted by the Board of 
Ordnance. The first stone of the County of Carleton General Protestant 
Hospital was laid publicly on the 19th September, 1850, and the 
first patient was admitted on the 2ud April, 1852. The building is 
a very neat one, and an ornament to the City. Except a small annual 
Provincial grant, it is supported entirely by voluntary subscriptions, but is 
in a thi'ivmg condition. 

MILLS. 

Soon after the Rideau Canal was commenced, a grist mill was erected 
by Mr. St. Louis on York street, which, it was thought, could be worked 
by the waste waters of the canal, but these having proved inadequate, 
operations were abandoned, and the mill was sold and removed 
shortly after its erection. In the year 1834, Mr. T. McKay 
erected the first manufacturing grist mill at New Edinburgh, near this 
city. It is one of the largest establishments of the kind in the- 
Province. A few years later a second grist mill was erected 
at the Chaudiere Falls by Mr. D. McLachlin, and which was soon followed 
by a third, erected by Mr. John Perkins. These having been found 
inadequate to the demands of the surrounding farmers, another large manu- 
facturing mill and oatmeal mill have been erected by Mr. Philip Thompson, 
in the same locality, and others are still in the course of erection. As might 
be expected, a number of saw mills exist in this immediate vicinity, the first 
erected about 1830, at the Rideau river, by Mr. St. Louis, was purchased 
by Mr. McKay, and supplanted in 1847 by another of larger dimensions, 
which combines all the machinery requisite for manufacturing laths and 
shingles, and has an extensive sash factory attached to it. Several large 
manufacturing saw mills have since been erected at the Chaudiere Falls, 
which give employment to a great many families, and lead to the circulation 
of immense sums of money annually. 



19 



NEWSPAPERS. 

On the 24th February, 1836, the first newspaper, called the Bijtown 
Independent, was issued by the late J. Johnston. This journal only outlived 
a few numbers, when the type and press were purchased by the late Doctor 
Alexander Christie, and the name of the paper was changed to the Bijtown 
Gazette. A third paper soon followed, advocating pure Protestant prin- 
ciples, called first the Ottawa Advocate, secondly the Orange Lily, then the 
Railway Times, and now the Ottawa Banner. On the 29th of March, 
1845, another journal, called the Bytown Packet, was started under the 
direction of Mr. Harris, which, two years afterwards, passed into the hands 
of Messrs. Friel & Bell. On the 30th October, 1849, Mr. Bell became 
sole proprietor, and on the 22ud of February, 1851, it assumed the name of 
the Ottawa Citizen. This journal now has a very extensive circulation, 
and is ably conducted. Still another weekly paper, called the Monarchist, 
was started a few years since, but the publication of which was relinquished 
a short time afterwards. The Ottawa Tribune, an ultra-Roman Catholic 
paper, was first issued on the 23rd July, 1854, whilst the first number of 
another journal, called The Union, appeared on the 31st March of the 
present year. 

FOUNDRIES. 

It is about twenty years since the late Mr. H. Blasdell erected the first 
iron foundry. The success attending his enterprising undertaking speedily 
led to other similar establishments, and another was started by his brother, 
Mr. N. S. Blasdell, in Kent Street, Upper Town, but space being found too 
limited, the establishment was merged into the large foundry on Victoria 
Island. The business transacted at this establishment is very extensive. — 
Two other establishments, of the same kind, embracing steam engine making, 
conducted respectively by Mr. Perkins and Mr. T. M. Blasdell, are 
also in operation in Ottawa. 

CLOTH FACTORIES. 

To the late Mr. McKay is referable the credit of erecting the first large 
cloth factory on the Ottawa. This extensive establishment was built in 
1841. For the first six years, all the work was done by hand looms, but 
in 1847 a number of power looms were substituted for them. The factory 
is situated at New Edinburgh, and gives constant employment to a large 
number of persons, and has turned out 3,500 pairs of blankets in the 



20 

course of a year, the quality of which may in a measure be judged of from 
the fact of a gold medal having been awarded to Mr. McKay for blankets 
at the Exposition of all Nations, held in London in 1850. 

HAT FACTORIES. 

From the facilities of obtainmg peltries in this vicinity, it is not wonder- 
ful that hat factories should have been amongst the earliest undertakings, 
and we accordingly find Mr. H. Freligh commencing business in this line as 
early as the spring of 1839, at which time this gentleman employed a single 
assistant, and this only for about three months in the year. At the present 
moment, there are no less than four establishments of the sort here, turning 
out from ten to twelve thousand hats annually, of a first class quality, 
principally silk and fur. The manufacture of furs at the same establish- 
ments into articles adapted to the winter of Canada is very large, indeed. 

BRICKS. 

A very energetic person, Mr. B. Walkley, opened the first brick-yard in 
Bytown, about the year 1832 ; and the first edifice, composed entirely of 
brick, was built about the year 1835. 

DISTILLERIES. 

In the year 1837, the late Mr. McKay erected the first distillery, 
at New Edinburgh, which was closed in 1852. About the year 

1846, the late Mr. Isaac Smith also erected a distillery at the Deep 
Cut of the Rideau Canal. This edifice was destroyed by fire a few 
years afterwards, when the Board of Ordnance, fancying the banks of the 
canal might be injured from such a building, refused to sanction Mr. Smith's 
rebuilding on the same spot. A smaller distillery, owned by his son, is in 
operation on an island in the Rideau River. 

MECHANICS' INSTITUTE. 

Agreeably to a notice, a meeting of the inhabitants of Bytown was held 
at the hall of the Odd T^ellows, M. U., St. Pauls Street, on 28th January, 

1847, to organize a Mechanics' Institute, on which occasion a lecture was 
delivered by Rev. James T. Byrne, " On the importance of knowledge to the 
working classes." Owing to some imperfections in the organization, the 
working of the Institute was not attended with successful results, and in less 
than two years it fell to the ground. A second society of a similar descrip- 



21 

tion, called the Mercantile Library Association, sprang up soon afterwards, 
which speedily followed the fate of its predecessor. After a lapse of three 
or four years the matter was again taken in hands by a few energetic 
gentleraen, when it was attended with entire success. On the 31st January 
1853, the Bytown Mechanics' Institute and Atlieua;um was incorporated, 
and the opening lecture was delivered by Dr. Van Cortlandt, on Saturday, 
15th March, his subject being, The Phenomena of Vegetation. This Insti- 
tution has already gained for itself a high position, and, if divested of Poli- 
tical and Sectarian bias, bids fair to rank ere long among the foremost in 
the Province. Some of its operations have been of so important a nature, 
and have served so good a purpose, in furthering the interests of the Ottawa 
Country, that it would be unjust not to notice them amongst the records of 
the place. In the latter end of June, 1853, it being understood that His 
Excellency the Governor General, Lord Elgin, and suite, together with other 
distinguished personages, intended visiting Bytown, the Managing Committee 
of the Institute considered that it would be conducive to the interest thereof 
to devise some means of bringing it particularly under their noiice, when it 
was determined that an artistic and scientific local exhibition should take 
place on 28th July, and that His Excellency should be invited to open the 
same in person. 

The Exhibition was opened accordingly on Thursday, the 28th July, by 
the Governor General, and was kept open to the public between the hours 
of ten in the morning and ten at night, until Saturday the 30th, and was 
visited by some thousands of people. 

"We copy the following from the report of the managing committee shortly 
after the event had taken place : — " Although the time for making prepara- 
tions was exceedingly limited, considering the amount of labour that was 
performed, your committee feel much satisfaction in reporting that their 
success exceeded all that was anticipated. 

" The Exhibition called forth the admiration of His Excellency and suite, 
and of all others who visited it. The results, your committee have no doubt, 
will be highly beneficial, by bringing the Institutioii into notice, and by 
giving it a standing in the eyes of the community at large, which it other- 
wise would not have obtained." 



22 

ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH. 

In the month of February, 1847, public attention was first called to the 
necessity of estaljlishing a telegraph line between Bytown and Montreal, by 
Mr. Barry, who had delivered two or three lectures on the subject. A joint 
stock company was subsequently organized, and the contract was given to 
a very energetic person, the late John A. Torney. The first telegraphic 
despatch reached Bytown on the 9th of March, 1850, the subject of which 
was the Sherbrook election. About a fortnight afterwards, a reward was 
offered for the detection of the person or persons who had cut down several 
of the poles in the Township of Cumberland. " A new line of telegraph , 
' ' from Bytown to Prescott, under the direction of the Canada Grand Trunk 
" Telegraph Company, was commenced about the end of the year 1853, but 
" its course and objectionable construction having given umbrage to the 
" Directors of the Bytown and Prescott Railway Company, trouble and 
" litigation ensued."* The wires were cut in sundry places, and left lying 
on the road, and it was no uncommon thing to see farmers coming to town, 
having their loading secured with portions of the cut wire. Matters, 
however, were soon adjusted, and both lines are now in successful operation. 

RAILROADS. 

On the 11th January, 1851, a company was organised for carrying into 
operation the Bytown and Prescott Railroad, the ground for which was 
broken on the 9th October of the same year, after which a dinner took 
place atDoran's Hotel. Tlie laying of the track was commenced on the 9th 
April, 1854, and the welcome whistle of the first rail-car was heard at five 
o'clock on the 20th December, 1854. It is most cheering to know that 
this great undertaking, which was successfully cai'ried through in the face 
of unparalleled obstacles, is likely ere long to remunerate the stock-holders. 
This road is universally acknowledged to be one of the smoothest, and, in 
construction, one of the best and safest on the continent ; and the merit of this 
great enterprise is mainly due to the untiring efforts of its zealous president, 
Robert Bell. 



• Vide Ottawa Citizen, February 4lh and 25lh, 1864. 



23 

GAS. 

A requisition, numerously signed by the inhabitants, appeared in the 
Ottawa Citizen on the 4th March, 1854, requesting the Mayor to call a 
public meeting, to consider the propriety of getting up a gas company, the 
result of which meeting was that an Act of Incorporation for the Bytown 
Consumers' Gas Company was obtained from the Provincial Parliament, 
and operations for carrying out the objects of the company were commenced 
in the following October. A casualty attended the progress of the work 
the summer succeeding : — On the 11th September, whilst in progress of 
erection, a great part of the front of the building fell, carrying with it 
several workmen engaged thereon, three of whom were very seriously 
injured, but fortunately none of the cases ended fatally. The city was first 
lighted with gas on the night of the 31st December, 1855. This building 
was the first on which slate was used for roofing ; and the entire cost of the 
undertaking amounted to about £12,000. It is likely to prove a remunera- 
ting speculation. 

WOOD AND COPPEE ENGRAVING. 

It is about two years since Mr. Cox opened an ofiBce for engraving, on 
wood and copper. At first, the project was thought a bad one, but the 
superior workmanship and energetic character of this young gentleman has 
secured him both work and friends, and there is every appearance of hia 
enterprise proving successful. 




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